hi there,
I did a search on this but some of the posts are rather old.
But can someone, anyone help me.
I have a Jpouch since 2001, all is good, generally no complaints BUT I have so much gas that doesn't want to release itself. I don't know what to do. I do not have heartburn or acid reflux, just lots of gas and generally on my left hand side right a few inches away from my bellybutton. i don't know how to get rid of it? Should I try those carbon pills that everyone is talking about? is this a common thing with people with J-Pouches? and help I would SO appreciate.
thanks vicki

sorry meant to say charcoal pills.. i was thinking in french.. oops!

Vicki,

The only two things that have helped me with gas are simethicone (Gas-X) and advice someone posted recently about not eating and drinking at the same time. She said a nurse suggested eating and then waiting a 1/2 hour to drink. It has really helped.

Additionally, if you are not currently taking some sort of probiotic (yogurt, VSL#3, etc.), you might try starting. Getting the bacteria in your gut in balance will help reduce gas too.

As for releasing it - everyone has their own tricks it seems. Walking is a favorite. Gyrating while sitting on the toilet seems to be another trick people use. Not sure what else to suggest.

Steve

Dear Vicki,

I don't know if this will work for you, but whenever I get gas pains (and they can be brutal) I use the breathing techniques I was taught in Lamaze class. No kidding. If I can just breathe my way through it, it's easier to bear and eventually passes.

Hee-hee-hee-hee.
Hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo.
Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.
Then a big inhale and exhale.

Rudolph, I do the same thing! I breathe as if in childbirth whenever I´m in a lot of pain - it works! One of the nurses in hospital after my hellish step 1 made fun of me when I did this. I was barely holding it together, trying not to burst into tears, so it really drove me over the edge. "You´re not giving birth, you know", she sneered. And I shrieked back, "I know - this is much worse!!"

Bjorn's Blow-out method:
1. Sit on the toilet with a good book or mag, and squeeze out all the stool you can
2. get down on your hands & knees on the floor, butt up in the air, and have a wad of TP in your hand covering the blow-hole
3. Enjoy the flatulance serenade... I get some boomers and some long, drawn out solos
4. Relief - this usually does the trick for me.

This can be tricky in small & or public washrooms... love those stalls with full doors, otherwise it can make for some awkward conversation if someone walks in... This one time at the airport, I had a guy call security on me...

Lying down on one side or the other usually helps me release gas. It helps to be home and have a bed to do this on! I put a towel or pad under me but I've never had a problem with stool coming out. The gas just floats to the surface of my pouch and exits. For me, lying on my right side works better than lying on my left. Best wishes! I have a feeling you will find a strategy which works for you. Oh, while standing in the shower, squirting warm/hot water from a hand held shower wand up my anus and relaxing the sphincter also works. However, it also releases stool. Not hard to clean up in the shower.

This may sound strange, but I take 'activated charcoal' when gas pains build up.

I had so much gas pain..I do all of the above mentioned except the breathing techniques. And I think another trick is drinking lots of water and lukewarm drinkings like tea, green tea, etc. Also, never let you hungry...eat smthing 2-3 hours.. I live as I mentioned for 2 weeks..I am fine for now..I wish it will continue like this way..

2 Beano with every meal was my saviour when I had my colon. I don't need it anywhere near as much as I used to but I always have some around and I find that it gives me the best relief. GasX did absolutely nothing for me except make me what to gag when i chewed up the tablets.

I hope you find something that works for you soon.

Suzanne

Sounds to me like you have a bit of a kink thing going on near your ostomy site. Stuff slows down there and that gives gas time to build up from bacterial action. If the above treatments don't work. Try asking for a short course of antibiotic, Flagyl or Cipro, to take care of any bacterial overgrowth, if present.

Jan